Multiple-needle chain-stitch machine.



L. ONDERDONK.

MULTIPLE NEEDLE 02mm smcu MACHINE.

AFPLlUATlON FILED AUG.29,1904

1,123,576. Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

5 SHBBTS BHEET l y L. ONDERDONK.

MULTIPLE NEEDLE CHAIN STITCH MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED wefz 1904,

1, 1 23,576, Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

i6 SHEETS SHBET 2 with/woes L. ONDERDONK.

MULTIPLE NEEDLE 01mm STITCH MACHINE AIPLIGATION FILED AUG.29,1904,

Patented J an. 5, 1915.

L.- ONDERDONK.

MULTIPLE NEEDLE CHAIN STITGH MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1904.

1,123,576, Patented Jan.5,1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

wimmeo g'j t albums V L. ONDBRDONK. MULTIPLE NEEDLE 01mm STITCH MACHINE.

APPLTUATIDN FILED AUG. 29, 1904 Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LANSING ONDERDONK,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 UNION SPECIAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MULTIPLE-NEEDLE CHAIN-STITCH MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Application filed August 29, 1904. Serial No. 222,613.

I '0 ME whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LANSING ONDERDONK, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple- Needle Chain-Stitch Machines, of which the following is a description, reference being had '0 the accompanying drawing and. to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to chain stitch sewing machines, and more particularly to multiple needle chains stitch machines, although several of m improvements are equally adapted to a slngle needle machine.

An object of the invention is to provide a looper operating mechanism, wherein the looper may be given variable movements, which looper operating mechanism is so constructed that the looper may be readily moved to a position where the same may be easily threaded.

A further object of the invention 15 to provide a looper operating mechanism, wherein the looper is positively-moved back and forth and given a dwell at certain times, which looper operating mechanism is of simple construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide means coiiperating with the loopers to aid in positioning the loop for the entrance of the needle.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sewing machine, showing my invention, the bed plate being removed; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but with the parts in different relation to each other; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. et'is a detail perspective View of the front end of the machine; showing the bed plate removed and the loopcrs in threading osition; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the ooper-oscillating mechanism, the parts being se arated to more clearly show the constructlonz Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing in side elevation the thread con trailer; Fig. 7 is a detail view of the feedoperating mechanism; Figs. 8 and -9 are detail sections, showing a non-thread-carrying looper and needle in different stitch'forming positions; Fig. 10 is an under lan view of the throat dplate; Figs. 11 an 12 show in top and si e elevation, the spreader plate; Fig. 13 is a detail, showing the cooperation of the needle, the threaded looper and the spreader which engages the looper thread; Fig. 1a is a detail, showing the looper in side elevation and the supporting shaft in sec tion.

The machine shown in the drawings is in the main of the usual type of the chain stitch sewing machines, and consists of the overhanging arm or gooseneck I, carrying lugs at the forward end in which the needle bar J reci roe-ates. Said needle bar is actuated by t e lever K, fulcrumed at K .on the overhanging arm, and. connected to the needle bar by a link K The opposite end of the needle lever is connected to the link K which is operated by the usual eccentric onthe driving shaft. The needle bar is pro vided with a plurality of needles N, and suitable thread guides cooperate therewith in supplying thread to said needles.

All of the above parts are of the usual construction, and will not be further described in detail.

The main shaft 0 extends beneath the bed plate, and is carried in suitable bearings.

arallel with the main shaft 0' is the looper shaft P, which is carried insuitable bearings which permit said shaft to oscillate and to move endwise. Screw-threaded 'on the inner end of the looper shaft is a sleeve P, which has its end contracted at P, to receive and gartially inclose theball or enlarged end i of a link P". This link I is connected to a bell crank lever P, pivoted at P to the bed plate. The opposite end of the bell crank lever P is connected to a link P", which in turn is connected to and actuated by a ball eccentric on the main shaft 0. The bell crankflever is slotted at P and is connected to the link P by a bolt I This aflords an adjustment whereby the throw of the bell crank may be varied. The ball connection between the link P and the looper shaft allows the shaft to oscillate, and through this connection the looper shaft is given an endwise movement.

The looper shaft is oscillated by the following mechanism: The main shaft 0 extends through the forward housing of the be plate, and carries on the end thereof a crank arm E, which is provided with a crank pin E. Pivoted to the lord plate at A, is a rock lever B, which carries a stud C connected to the crank pin E by a link I). The upper end of the rock lever B is curved hackwardly at B, and provided with an opening to receive the screw stud B The looper shaft P extends through the housing at the forward end of the machine, and has loosely mounted thereon a crank frame G. Said crank frame is perforated. to receive the screw stud G. A link F connects the studs B and G, and coinniunii-ates the movements of the rock lever B to the crank frame Gr. The crank frame G extends to the opposite side of the looper shaft P, and has a portion of said end cut away. On this end of the crank iranie and insaid cut away portion is a stud G On said stud is a sleeve Li, carrying a latch piece H, and a pin H. 011 the extreme outer end of the looper shaft 1, a turning hlocir G". This block is split from its central perforation outward and carries a set screw (P, by means of which the turning block is rigidly secured to the .looper shaft. The turning block has a projecting shoulder which is curved at G to correspond to the curvature of the head of the linl; 1*. Said block G", also has a stop G, to limit the movement of the block, relative to the crank frame G, and a square shoulder U at its opposite end underneath which the latch piece H engages and normally holds the stop (r in engagement with the eranh frame (l. A suitable spring R is connected to the pin H and to the stud G, and tends to hold the latch beneath the turning block. It will be apparent that when the latch is beneath the turning block, that then said block vvill partake of the movement of rhc crank frame G, and said movements will :1 he connniina d to the looper shaft. On the other hand. when it :l sdrawn outward from heomuh the tlllllifi" hloch, then the turning hloel: free to turn independently of said crank frame. The object of leasing the looper shaft from its operating mechanism is to enable the operator to turn the loopers into convenient threading position. Where a plurality of threadcan ring loopei's are used a great deal of dililvultv has been exper enced in threading the same. In nvv p esent machine, the furvvard portion of the lied plate Q is divided and hinged at (V. In threading Ill) loopcrs, this portion of the lied plate is lowered, the latch ll released from under the turning lilocli. and said hlorl; turned h v hand to more the loopers forward from beneath the feed plat.- and feed dog, Sl1U\\'Il in Fig. i. In this position the loopers can be easily threaded, and then returned to operative position, the latch springing to place and locking the parts in position for operation. By loosening the set screw G the position of the looper shaft may be adjusted. l

The thread-carrying looper, as shovvn in Fig. 13, consists of a shank portion V. having an open sided hearing V, to engage the looper shaft P, and is held in place on said shaft by a set screw V. By this construction of open sided hearing, the loopers may be assembled or removed from the looper shaft Without removing the shaft or other parts. This is found to be very convenient in multiple needle machines, where it is often desired to change the number of needles and loopers. Supported in the shank portion in the usual manner, is the looper L. This looper L has the usual thread eyes to receive the looper thread.

In Figs. 8 and 9, I have shown a non- 5 thread carrying looper. Said loopol' has the thread notch L and shoulder L to properly manipulate the needle thread.

In connection with my looper nna'ihanism, I use a spreader shown in detail in Figs. 10, 11 and This spreader consists of a bar having slotted ends S in which screws d engage to adjustahly secure said spreader bar to the bed plate. The spreader bar is provided with projecting fingers, which lie adjacent to the needle slots, and cooperate with the looper and needle in forming the stitches in .i manner hereinafter described.

The thread for the loopers leads through 1 suitable tcnsitns and guide eyes to the lilo tionary guide eyes 7 and W, thence through the eyes to the loopers. The guide eves W, W, are carried by a hraclret \V", sh.- .cd at its lovver end at and is adjustahly connected to the bed plate by the screw ll.

The controller or tal e-up lot the loops:- thread consists of a. lever T. shown in Fig. (l, pivoted to a supporting link T", in turn pivoted {O a log "1 on the lied plate. Inter mediate its ends the lever T slirreiiunds an eccentric T, which gives the l lLt end of said lever an up and down movement. (hi the free end of said controller lever or takeup is secured a. guide piece T having eyes T. The thread passes through the eyes T after leaving the eves \V and Indore enter ing the eves W.

The movements of the controller or takeup are as follows: The take-up begins to move upwardly llllti the loopcrs are moving forward and reaches its extreliuupward position between the htiitl iniil'jv' guide e v s at about the time the loopers begin thcirneeillc avoiding movement. the take-up then moves gradually downward while the loop crs are moving to the side and to the rear. The upward lnoven'icnt ol' the talieugi draw; up the looper thread from the previous stitch.

. the main shaft.

In Fig. T, I have shown the feed rock shaft Y, which is operated by a link Y connected to and actuated by an eccentric on These parts are of the usual construction, and it will not be necessary to give further description of the same.

The operation of the looper mechanism is as follows: Assuming the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2 the looper will be in its extreme backward position, and about to enter the needle loop. As the crank pin E on the end of the main shaft rotates, it causes the rock lever B, through its connecting link D to move backward, and this movement of the rock lever is communicated through the link F and crank frame (l to the looper shaft. The movement of the looper forward will increase rapidly to amaximum owing to the toggle effect of the link F and rock lever B. Soon after the crank pin pases through of movement from the position shown in Fig. 2 the are of movement of said pin approximates the arc of movement which would be described by the link D moving on the stud C, as a fulcrum. At the same time the toggle connections F and B reach an ineffective position, the result of which is that the looper stops and has a consii'lerable dwell. The looper begins to move backward after the parts reach the position shown in Fig. .2. and when the crank pin approaches the position shown in Fig. 2 the looper has reached its rear position, and, owing to the crank pins passing the dead center. the looper again dwells. By this arrangement of mechanism. 1 am able to use a short looper, which is given a rapid forward and backward movement with long periods of dwell at each and of its stroke. During the dwell in the movement of the looper, said looper'is moved sidewise to give the same the needle -avoiding movement. In this necdl a-avoiding movement, the loop is engaged by the spreader and opened. \Yhen a ihreail-cariwii1g looper is used. (see Fig. 13 the spreader linger projects into the path of the strand of the looper thread lead ing to the previous stitch and engages the same as the looper moves sidewisc, thus opening the loop for the needle. When a single chain stitch is being made by a nonthrcad -carr ving looper, the needle loop, (see Figs. 8 and 9). is held well forward by the shoulder L". so that the strand leading to the previous stitch is engagci'l by said spreader finger, and thus the loop is opened to receive the needles.

\Vhile I have described in detail the preferred form of my invention, it is obvious that many changes may be made therein by those ski ed in the art, to which it appertains, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A sewing machine, including in combination a Work support, a driving shaft, a threaded looper, operative connections be tween the driving shaft and the looper, said work support having a vertical portion-covering the looper, and means whereby said vertical portion may be moved to give access to the looper, said operative connections be tween the looper and driving shaft including a latch for holding the looper connected to the driving shaft, whereby upon releasing the latch said looper may be disconnected from the operating shaft and moved toward the opening formed by said movable vertical portion of the work support.

2. A sewin machine, including in combination a wort support, a needle, a driving shaft, a threaded looper, a supporting member for said looper, operative connections between said supporting member and said driving shaft. whereby said supporting member may be moved for causing said looper to cooperate with said needle, a work support having a vertical. ortion covering said looper. means where iy said vertical portion may be moved to give access to the looper for threading. said operative connections between said looper supporting memher and the driving shaft including a yieldingly pressed latch for holding said looper supporting member connected to the driving shaft. whereby upon the release of said latch said looper supporting member may be turned so as to move the looper toward the opening formed by said movable vertical portion of the work support.

3. The combination with a needle, means for operating the same, of a looper shaft. a looper secured thereon, mechanism for operating said looper shaft, including a crank frame, loose on said looper shaft with means for operating the same and means for con- 1 0 nccting said crank frame to said shaft whereby the looper shaft may be operated by the movements of the crank frame.

4. The combination with a needle, means for operating the same, of a looper shaft, a looper secured thereon, mechanism for operating said looper shaft, including a crank frame loose on said looper shaft. means for locking the crank frame to the looper shaft. said means including a latch.

5. The combination with a needle, means for operating the same, of a looper shaft, a looper secured thereon, mechanism for operatin said loo )er shaft, including a turning block rigidly ecured to said looper shaft, a 135 crank frame loose on said looper shaft and means for connecting said block and frame.

6. The combination with a needle, means for operating the same, of a looper shaft, a looper secured thereon, mechanism for oper- 1 ating said louper shaft, including a turning hlocl: rigidly secured to said looper shaft. a er 11k frame loose on said looper shalt and. a latch for connecting said block a? 1 frame.

T. The eoinhiinltion with a needh means for operating the same. of a lo pm shaft, :1. looper secured thereon. mechanism for oper ating said looper shal't, including a tiirning lilorlc rigidly secured to said looper shaft a crank frame loose on said looper shaft and a spring-e:enrolled hair]: for connecting said l-louk and funnel su stantially as descrihed! i\ sewingmachine. including in combi nation. a bed plate. a rlntl'i plate, the front portion of said rlnth plate being hinged to the lied plate and having also a vertically extending portion to inclese the operating parts, a threadararr rin looper mounted to oscillate between said l ed plate and said cloth platen means for oscillating the same and means for llfseomiecting said looper from its oscillating means. whereby the same may he turned to a position for convenience in threading.

3 The coinhination with a nork support, of stitch-forming mechanism including a needle. a main shaft located beneath said worl: support. means for operating said needle from said main shatt. a looper shaft located beneath said Worl support a rock lever mounted lieneath said work support1 means for roe-hing said lever from said nlain halt, and means for oseillating said looper iatt from said rocli shalt. inri'luding a rranl; t'ranie loose on the Iooper shaft, derives for securing said crank frame to said looper shaft. and a link connecting said. crank frame to said roek lei er.

10. The cennhination with a work support. of stitelrl'orinin mechanism including a needle, :1 main shaft located beneath the work support means for operating said needle from said main shaft. a looper shaft mounted beneath the work support, a looper carried therein: a rock lever mounted he neath the work support, means for rocking aid lever from said main shaft. a crank flame loose on the looper shalt. illeans for detachably connecting: said crank frame to said looper shaft. a link ennreeting said rock lever and said crank framesaid link and said rock lever forming a toggle, \x'lierchy a rariahle movement imparted to said looper.

ii. The combination of a loopcr shaft a looner connected thereto. said looper having an open sided hearing whereby the same ni'w he detached from said shaft.

12. In a sewing niaii'hinm the comliunation with a driving shaft. of a looper shaft. means for mining: the same longritiulinalln 2.1!(ll1llilllr4 for oscillating: said shalt, inrluil iris: a ro iing lever ls ll :1. llllli tonne-ting ill same to the main shaft nt rme-"liare w at its upper end being bent hack ton ard the main shaft a crank frame on the looper shaft, and a link connecting the end of the rocltii'ig lerer with the crank frame, said llllli and rocking lever forming in ell'ert a toggle, wherein, variable movement is in'iparted to the looper; substantially as described.

18. The fijnl'nbilintlfin of a needle, a looper and means for operating the same, of a wonder bar having slotted ends, means for a fljustably attaching said bar to the throat plate and a projecting spreading finger carried by said bar.

1- The combination with a plurality of needles and loopers, and means for operating the same, a spreader bar secured to the throat plate and having a series of supportmg fingers lying adjacent the needle slots for engaging the thread carried by the loopor and positioning the same tor the entrance of the needle between said thread and the body of the looper; substantially as described.

25. The combination of a feeding mechanism a needle, a looper, means for moving said looner forward into the needle loop in a line srhstantially parallel with the line of feed and for withdrawing the loopcr from the needle loop, means for giving the said looper a lateral movement While in the needle loop and means for engaging the looper thread for separating said looper thread from the land of the looper so as to permit the needle to pass between the looper thread and the body of the looper.

i i A combination oi a feeding mechanism. of a plurality of needles arr; nged in a line substantially at right angles to the line of feed. a thread carryii'ig looper con ia ratiiig with each needle. means for movino u loopers into and out. of their respective ill'fill hoops. earl! iooper mowing into the needle loop in a direction o 'iposed to the direction of feed and in a line substantiall parallel with the line of teed, means for morine' the loopers laterally While in the needle loops and a spreader for enf'aging each loom-r thread for separating the looper thread from the body of the looper to permit each needle to pass between the looper thread and the body of the looper with which it ooiiperates.

17. The combination of a feeding mechanism. a needle, a looper, a looper support, means for moving said. looper support hael: and forth in a plane substantially parallel with the line of feed. means tor giving said lo per a lateral movement at the forward end at its stroke. and a spreader arranged in the path of the looper thread wherelu the looper thread engaged lay the s 'ireai'ler is separated from the body of the louner fo the entranee of the needle latexn said w ho-dv and the loope' tlrlrlidl li ies e l l In:a of a, needlev lfl l ii ill) -str0ke', means for moving said looper laterally during said dwell, and a spreader arranged in front of the needle relative to the movement of the looper and in the path of the looper thread, whereby said looper thread is separated from the body of the looper for the entrance of the needle between said looper and said looper thread. :5

In te timony whereof I aflix my signature,

in presence of two witnesses.

LANSING ONDERDONK.

Vitnesses W. L. SWIFT, JOHN H. HOWELL, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,123,576, granted January 5, 1915, upon the application of Lansing Onderdonk, of New York, N. Y., for an improvement in Multiple-Needle Chain-Stitch Machines, an error appearsin the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 5, line 1 after the word said insert the words and syllables looper forward into the needle loop in suband that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent ()fiice.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of March, A. D., 1915.

[SEAL] J. T. N .\'TON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

